It's so easy to collect fabric. It's beautiful and it feels good to the touch. It's not all that expensive for a small cut, and when you see something you love it's hard to know if you'll be able to find it again.
In December I began keeping weekly financial records for my business. Looking at the numbers eye-to-eye each week has made me think very carefully before I spend money on new materials and I've cut way back.
So, when I license designs to a company that pays for the cost of materials it's a truly special treat.
On Friday I went to Fabric Place Basement in Natick, MA, with just such a treat in hand. I went to buy
some supplies to sew fresh samples of the Beastie Bags to send
to Simplicity. The Beastie Bags will be out as my second a Simplicity pattern envelope early
spring 2014. Fabric Place Basement is a family owned fabric store, or warehouse really, and their customer service is terrific. They'd put all the fleece in storage for the summer, but let me go look through the bolts in the back. They've got an amazing selection.
I bought some light brown velour. Many commercially made stuffed animals are sewn from velour and I've wanted to give it a try. I made this Baby Bear and Blankie with it and I think the results are really excellent.
The blankie is double-sided: velour on one side and flannel on the other. I lined the bear's ears with the same flannel to make it a nicely matched set. I used a plastic nose and some blue safety eyes from 6060 on Etsy. This bear is incredibly soft and snuggly.
I'm giving this set to my sister who will be having her first baby, a girl, in the fall. I hope she likes it.
Make a Baby Bear and Blankie Set yourself. Get the pattern here.
Jocelyn says
Very cute! How is it sewing with velour? Is it super stretchy like minky? I love the softness but have hated sewing with minky in the past because of how much it moves around while your are cutting and sewing.
Michelle Handford says
This is adorable! So perfect for a new baby. And congrats on the new simplicity pattern!
abbyjane says
Hi Jocelyn,
The velour does tend to curl around the edges after you cut it. It’s nothing a few pins can solve, but it definitely curls more than fleece, for example. If you get good quality minky (Shannon Fabrics makes terrific “cuddle” fabric) you’ll have no problem sewing with it. The backing is woven so it doesn’t stretch any more than fleece and it doesn’t curl, either. I always use lots of pins when sewing softies so that helps. Velour and minky are so incredibly soft for a stuffed animal. It’s worth it to hang in there!
abbyjane says
Thank you so much. I’m working on sewing Beastie Bags today. Sewing final samples is always a bit nerve wracking!
Jocelyn says
Wow, that is great to know about the minky. I had no idea that they had better quality stuff that was woven. I’ll look into Shannon Fabrics. Thanks! Animals made from cuddle fabric and velour are so soft and lovely!
abbyjane says
You can find Shannon Fabrics at the nicer fabric retailers. They only sell online to the trade, but they’re working on a “store locator” for their website so that you can more easily figure out where to purchase the fabric retail. It is so great to work with!